THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 8, Franklin Pierce 0 - 6 Innings

-Records: Assumption (8-16, 5-7 NE-10), Franklin Pierce (5-13, 1-5 NE-10)

-Location: Rindge, N.H. (Bisaccia SB Complex)

-The Lead: After two reschedules, the Assumption College softball team faced Franklin Pierce on Thursday for the teams' final contest of the three-game series. The Hounds shut out the Ravens for the second time this season by a score of 8-0 in six innings. The victory marks sophomore pitcher Kendal Roy's (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) second straight shutout. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The Hounds went scoreless throughout the first two innings, leaving three runners on base before scoring four runs in the top of the third for the advantage.

-In the top of the third inning, junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman) led off with a double to left center field, followed by freshman Caitlin Mirabell (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) who singled through the right side to score Clark, 1-0.

-With just one out and Mirabell and junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) in scoring position, sophomore Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West) blasted a three-run homer over the center field fence for the 4-0 lead.

-The Hounds added to their lead in the top of the fifth when Abad led off with a triple down the right-field line and scored on a passed ball to make it 5-0 Assumption.

-Senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven) followed with a single up the middle and Menard came up huge again with a double to left center to score Moniz, 6-0.

-Menard scored when junior Cassie Schultz (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury) sent a single through the left side with two outs, 7-0 Hounds.

-Assumption scored the eighth run in the top of the sixth after several Franklin Pierce personnel changes. With two outs in the frame, the Hounds put Menard and Mirabell on first and third, respectively. Sophomore Alex Haskell (Bedford, N.H / Bedford) pinch-hit a single to the FPU shortstop to score Mirabell for the eight-run lead.

-The Hound defense retired three straight batters in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the 8-0, mercy-rule victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Menard led the Hounds with an outstanding three hits, four RBI and two runs scored in four at bats.

-Also posting a multi-hit game was Abad (2), Moniz (2) and junior Cassidy Colby (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill Regional) (2).

-The Hounds collected 13 hits compared to just three for for the Ravens. Assumption also left eight runners stranded on base while Franklin Pierce left four.

-Roy earns the win for the Hounds and collects her second shutout of the season. She allowed just three hits and one walk in 6.0 innings. Roy also struck out five batters on the day and improves to 7-4 on the season. 

-FPU's Amanda Adee takes the loss for the Ravens. She allowed seven earned runs and nine hits in 4.0 innings.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

-The shutout marks Roy's second in a row as she posted a 5-0 victory over Merrimack just yesterday. The sophomore has also claimed all but one of the Hounds' victories this season.

-Menard's home run marks her first of the season. The sophomore now posts five for her career.

-Assumption is currently tied for third in the NE-10 Northeast Division standings with a 5-3 record. 

-With her outstanding four RBI on the day, Menard now moves into the top five in the NE-10. She is ranked fourth in the league with 20 RBI on the season.

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds are currently scheduled to host AIC at home on Saturday, April 2 in a doubleheader to begin at 12 p.m. Stay tuned to www.AssumptionGreyhounds.com for the latest schedule updates.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the women's softball team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.